What's a cutoff score for osteopathic medical schools?

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DOaspiringDOC

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What is a score that one would have no chance getting into a school?
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500 is probably the floor you should feel comfortable applying with, although still technically possible with a little lower.
 
doapp110 said:
500 is probably the floor you should feel comfortable applying with, although still technically possible with a little lower.
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How about 498? That's my score and idk other options at this point. I think I have good EC but still the score is gonna be difficult to get around
 
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If your gpa and EC's are there, you will still have a shot at some of the newer DO schools. I am no admissions expert though, maybe @Goro could help you more.
 
DOaspiringDOC said:
Was wondering if I could share my stats with y'all and I could get some feedback?
Just got my MCAT back and the score was 498 (123, 123, 126, 126)

I retook the MCAT from a 490 (124, 123, 121, 122)


Current MPH student at Emory University

Undergrad GPA: 3.6

Undergrad SGPA: 3.5

Shadowing Experience: 2 MD and 1 DO

Community Service: I started my own non-profit after my brother was diagnosed with cancer. Since inception we have raised thousands of dollars to help individuals seek treatment; I also built a school for the blind in India one summer as well

Research: Clinical Research coordinator for 2 years now

Academic research: Have done research on dialysis patients that have lead me to present my abstract in a conference in Tokyo



I am mainly interested in DO schools. I fell in love with the philosophy since I was in college and since then haven’t looked back. I want to return to a rural area to practice. That is where I am from.
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Honestly, those scores are not good. try an app cycle, especially targeting the newest schools. But also consider an SMP
 
DOaspiringDOC said:
I am already in a master of public health program. Also isn't my gpa competitive for DO?
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MPH's aren't that helpful for reinvention. Your GPAs are fine, but you're 2x MCAT taker who has yet to crack the 500 mark. DOA at my school, alas, and a quite a few others. In fact, you're in the risk zone for failing out of med school and/or failing Boards.

Read this:
 
Goro said:
MPH's aren't that helpful for reinvention. Your GPAs are fine, but you're 2x MCAT taker who has yet to crack the 500 mark. DOA at my school, alas, and a quite a few others. In fact, you're in the risk zone for failing out of med school and/or failing Boards.

Read this:
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At risk of failing cause I can get my CARS score a couple points higher? Sounds a bit of a stretch. But let's hope some school can take into consideration the other hard work I have done.
 
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A 123 in C/P shows a basic content deficiency in chemistry and physics. This section is much easier to improve than CARS. If you can get a 125 (50th percentile) on C/P and match your prior performance on the other sections (including the mediocre CARS score), you’ll hit the 500 mark and have more doors open for you.
 
Just for reference, I had a similar profile to yours (494 first MCAT, 498 second), solid EC’s and research, honor’s degree with 3.85 cGPA. Applied 10 DO schools, received 6 interviews. I also applied literally the first day the application opened and sent back all secondaries within 3-4 days. I wouldn’t have applied with anything below that score and even at my school (lower-tier DO) there aren’t a lot of students under a 500 MCAT. you’ll have to cast a wide net and apply to almost every DO school but like the posters above said, there’s a decent chance you’ll have to complete an SMP .
 
Echoing what Goro said. You are at risk for failing boards and as a non-trad, I've come to the conclusion that it's better to take my time and enter medical school with a strong foundation in the basic sciences so that I can keep up with the material and not be overwhelmed (I've done an SMP so I know what it's like). Can you get into a newer DO school? Possibly. Should you want to? That'll depend on your goals. An extra year spent figuring out what you need to do to get a 504+, learning how to cook/manage finances etc can make a huge difference in your life as a future medical student. Practicing for 40 or 42 years won't make a difference. Set yourself up for success now rather than pay the price later (repeat a year, not match preferred location/specialty etc)

You want to be the guy who gets a 550+ on their COMLEX (and 220+ on Step if it's not P/F by then), not the guy barely struggling to pass (400). It's much easier to hone your study skills now and try different learning strategies than it is once you're in med school (if you managed to get into a newer school with your current stats). I have friends who got accepted with your stats (a few years ago - when averages were lower), and they all wish they took a gap year instead of rushing in and struggling to barely pass (and now lack any options of specializing due to poor scores).
 
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Osminog said:
A 123 in C/P shows a basic content deficiency in chemistry and physics. This section is much easier to improve than CARS. If you can get a 125 (50th percentile) on C/P and match your prior performance on the other sections (including the mediocre CARS score), you’ll hit the 500 mark and have more doors open for you.
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2 points really make that big of a difference?
 
DOaspiringDOC said:
2 points really make that big of a difference?
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Yes. 500 is a major cutoff that a lot of schools use for non-URMs. Also, two 30th percentile section scores will be viewed in a very negative light. People do get into DO school with very low CARS scores, but they have to make up for it with average or above-average scores on the other sections.
 
So it appears that no school will look at me due to my 498? Even though I have other stuff to compensate? Do y'all think I should apply this cycle?
 
DOaspiringDOC said:
2 points really make that big of a difference?
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This isn't about a two point difference. Obviously someone with a 123 CARS isn't dumb. People from my SMP got into MD schools with 124/125 CARS (native English speakers nonetheless) but otherwise destroyed the MCAT (514+). Not all people with <500 will struggle with passing their boards/classes, and a handful of students are admitted each year to DO schools with 494-498 directly via DO-SMPs with a ~3.5+ in the SMP. The point is that those students have proven themselves in in a medical school "audition".

You could very well get accepted and turn out to be a rockstar. But it is much easier to build the discipline to be that rockstar if you take the time to improve your MCAT and not rush things. There are sub 500 people who are top of their class, and there are sub 500 people who will fail every class. The latter is more likely, and everyone thinks that they're the exception to the rule until it happens to them.
 
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DOaspiringDOC said:
So it appears that no school will look at me due to my 498? Even though I have other stuff to compensate? Do y'all think I should apply this cycle?
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You can certainly apply. It’s your money. I don’t think anyone has said that nobody will look at you with a 498, but schools do have cut-offs, and your options are going to be limited with that score.

I think in the other thread you said that you’re 20 years old. Unless that was a typo, I don’t know why you wouldn’t take a year or even two to improve your MCAT score and maybe do an SMP or informal post-bacc. Med school isn’t going anywhere, and you’ll have a lot more options with a higher score. I know it’s hard to wait, but a year isn’t really anything in the grand scheme of things, especially at your age.
 
DOaspiringDOC said:
So it appears that no school will look at me due to my 498? Even though I have other stuff to compensate? Do y'all think I should apply this cycle?
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In the 2018 cycle, 4,559 people applied to DO schools with MCAT scores in the 495-500 range. Of those 4,559 people, 1,627 matriculated into DO school. By my rough estimate (based on matriculant MCAT averages by race and total numbers of matriculants by race), almost a quarter of those 1,627 matriculants were URM applicants. Others in that MCAT range might have been benefited from doing an SMP program with linkage at the institution that accepted them, or from having an alumnus or two in the family.

The odds wouldn’t be good if you applied with your current score. You’d have a small shot at the schools that are rural and/or new, but that’s it. You’d be better off revising your MCAT study strategy and retaking. Did you take practice tests prior to your latest attempt? Which ones? How did you do on them?
 
Here's a bit about my background. I graduated in 2016 with a 3.7 cGPA and a 3.4 sGPA. Got a 496 on my first try in July 2016. Left school, volunteer more, went into the work force, went on a medical mission oversea. Just retook my MCAT in Jan 2020 and got a 505. Low for MD but fairly alrighty for DO. I think you are panicking because you are still young. I'm 26 this year and JUST STARTED my first application for DO. Listen, medical school isn't going anywhere. So it's best to take some time off if you are struggling with the MCAT. I know my latest score isn't that much awe-inspiring but if I had to go back. I wouldn't have changed much because my thinking changed a lot during my time off. Personally, it helped with MCAT and my view of medicine. Know your strengths and accept your weaknesses. Going to medical school isn't just to be a doctor. Go there to train yourself to be a GREAT doctor!
 
DOaspiringDOC said:
How about 498? That's my score and idk other options at this point. I think I have good EC but still the score is gonna be difficult to get around
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If you really don't want to retake the MCAT then VCOM has an SMP that offers a conditional acceptance (not just interview but acceptance) if you meet their GPA requirements in the program (you already meet their MCAT requirements). You can probably apply there at the same time as you apply to DO schools as a backup
 
srbm1786 said:
You can certainly apply. It’s your money. I don’t think anyone has said that nobody will look at you with a 498, but schools do have cut-offs, and your options are going to be limited with that score.

I think in the other thread you said that you’re 20 years old. Unless that was a typo, I don’t know why you wouldn’t take a year or even two to improve your MCAT score and maybe do an SMP or informal post-bacc. Med school isn’t going anywhere, and you’ll have a lot more options with a higher score. I know it’s hard to wait, but a year isn’t really anything in the grand scheme of things, especially at your age.
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I have taken 2 gap years... I just cannot get my MCAT score higher. This is the cap I am at. I have tried everything. I had a crappy score last year so I decided to enroll in an MPH. Since I always wanted to do MPH, now was the time.

Just in a really bad situation as I have tried the best I could
 
16qg said:
If you really don't want to retake the MCAT then VCOM has an SMP that offers a conditional acceptance (not just interview but acceptance) if you meet their GPA requirements in the program (you already meet their MCAT requirements). You can probably apply there at the same time as you apply to DO schools as a backup
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Can I be in that even though I am an MPH student?
 
Osminog said:
In the 2018 cycle, 4,559 people applied to DO schools with MCAT scores in the 495-500 range. Of those 4,559 people, 1,627 matriculated into DO school. By my rough estimate (based on matriculant MCAT averages by race and total numbers of matriculants by race), almost a quarter of those 1,627 matriculants were URM applicants. Others in that MCAT range might have been benefited from doing an SMP program with linkage at the institution that accepted them, or from having an alumnus or two in the family.

The odds wouldn’t be good if you applied with your current score. You’d have a small shot at the schools that are rural and/or new, but that’s it. You’d be better off revising your MCAT study strategy and retaking. Did you take practice tests prior to your latest attempt? Which ones? How did you do on them?
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I have taken all the Alitus tests, Next Step, Princeton, and AAMC. Always scoring 498-501

This is my cap. I hate giving up but have to face reality too.
 
DOaspiringDOC said:
I have taken all the Alitus tests, Next Step, Princeton, and AAMC. Always scoring 498-501

This is my cap. I hate giving up but have to face reality too.
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I'd give the newer DO schools a shot then. You still have a chance, apply ASAP if that's your plan.
 
doapp110 said:
I'd give the newer DO schools a shot then. You still have a chance, apply ASAP if that's your plan.
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Ok, do these places look more at EC's and GPA. Cause really everything else on the app is fine its just the score...
 
DOaspiringDOC said:
I have taken 2 gap years... I just cannot get my MCAT score higher. This is the cap I am at. I have tried everything. I had a crappy score last year so I decided to enroll in an MPH. Since I always wanted to do MPH, now was the time.

Just in a really bad situation as I have tried the best I could
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You’ve taken two gap years after finishing undergrad and you’re only 20? So you finished a Bachelor’s degree at 18, while working at least some of that time? That’s impressive!

If you want to apply now and can afford it, go for it. You may have luck at some of the schools people have mentioned here. I would still start studying again for a retake in case you aren’t accepted, so you have better options next cycle if you’re determined to continue pursuing medicine. In your case, if you really believe you’ve put forth your best effort on your own, I might consider investing in a structured class with a money-back guarantee or a private tutor.
 
srbm1786 said:
You’ve taken two gap years after finishing undergrad and you’re only 20? So you finished a Bachelor’s degree at 18, while working at least some of that time? That’s impressive!

If you want to apply now and can afford it, go for it. You may have luck at some of the schools people have mentioned here. I would still start studying again for a retake in case you aren’t accepted, so you have better options next cycle if you’re determined to continue pursuing medicine. In your case, if you really believe you’ve put forth your best effort on your own, I might consider investing in a structured class with a money-back guarantee or a private tutor.
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Yes, I entered college a bit earlier than others. But am blessed to have a family support me, I know many people don't have that.

But really I am so tired of the gap years. That is why I enrolled in an MPH program. At least I am learning about the other side of medicine, which is important.

You make sense. Just hope schools look past a sort of mediocore score. Also I have tried private tutors, Kaplan, Princeton, and so many other small companies. Nothing has happened. I just can't get it anywhere I would have liked.
 
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Maybe it isn't my place to say this but you've completed a master's degree at 20 while most people are finishing their bachelor's around 22-24. I know everything is crazy now due to COVID but maybe take a year or two off to do something interesting/out of your comfort zone, travel (if/when it is safer), just relax and enjoy time with friends and family. Then come back refreshed at 21-22 and dedicate a good 2-3 months to MCAT prep and crush it. And I noticed you're a Texas resident from your other post, so a higher MCAT might help you get into a Texas MD school if that's of interest to you.
 
coolsands155 said:
Maybe it isn't my place to say this but you've completed a master's degree at 20 while most people are finishing their bachelor's around 22-24. I know everything is crazy now due to COVID but maybe take a year or two off to do something interesting/out of your comfort zone, travel (if/when it is safer), just relax and enjoy time with friends and family. Then come back refreshed at 21-22 and dedicate a good 2-3 months to MCAT prep and crush it. And I noticed you're a Texas resident from your other post, so a higher MCAT might help you get into a Texas MD school if that's of interest to you.
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I appreciate the input. I have taken time off already, went to India for some time and planned some more trips but then COVID hit. Then went to stuffy for 2-3 months and this happened
 
DOaspiringDOC said:
So it appears that no school will look at me due to my 498? Even though I have other stuff to compensate? Do y'all think I should apply this cycle?
Click to expand...
No, no one said this. Did you even read the thread I posted? I know its long, but it is definitely beneficial. I promise, give it a read.

I go to VCOM, and we have TONS of people with sub 500 MCAT scores that are doing really, extremely well for themselves. The lowest score in our class is a 494, made by a girl who is not URM as far as skin color. She might have economically URM though, unsure. You can be accepted with a 498 if you apply wisely, cater your secondaries to mission and vision statements, and do EVERY thing else flawlessly.
 
Apply this cycle broadly but don’t apply to schools that require an MCAT of 500 or greater.
 
DOaspiringDOC said:
I have taken 2 gap years... I just cannot get my MCAT score higher. This is the cap I am at. I have tried everything. I had a crappy score last year so I decided to enroll in an MPH. Since I always wanted to do MPH, now was the time.

Just in a really bad situation as I have tried the best I could
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Your trouble with standardized exams such as the MCAT might be lethal to your medical career, whether or not you will get accepted into a DO school since DOs will mostly need to take 2 sets of board exams. I would strongly suggest that you prioritize identifying the reason as to why you could not improve your MCAT score.
 
zNoodlez said:
Your trouble with standardized exams such as the MCAT might be lethal to your medical career, whether or not you will get accepted into a DO school since DOs will mostly need to take 2 sets of board exams. I would strongly suggest that you prioritize identifying the reason as to why you could not improve your MCAT score.
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Agreed. OP is obviously a highly intelligent individual who's proven himself by graduating at such a young age, and can surpass expectations once more. While people prioritize different things like "just getting into any med school and finishing asap" vs getting into the BEST medical school possible if they work a little harder and figure out what is not working (even tho OP says he's tried multiple ways to fix the MCAT, there's always more things to try). I also noticed that OP is Asian/ORM from his other post and from my experience sometimes Asian families may pressure in different ways (pushing OP to get into any med school asap, being supportive but expecting expedient results, etc). Not saying this applies to OP but it does to a lot of my Asian friends.

There is ALWAYS a way to break that 500 and to figure out what one needs to do to improve their learning strategies. 1-2 years of figuring things out will pay dividends in getting into a reputable DO or MD school (and thus better learning opportunities, specialties, etc), gaining life skills and having a much smoother transition in terms of non-academic things, and being more capable of drinking from the fire hydrant that medical school is and not falling behind or failing.
 
OP You could try the newer DO schools if you don't mind going to a brand new school because they are the ones you'd probably have a better chance at. In the mean time, I would also identify your issues on the C/P and CARS sections, and prepare for an MCAT retake just in case you don't make it. Aim for a 505+ on the retake with balanced sub-section scoring. Apply immediately the earlier the better with your stats, and plan your MCAT retake around April next year.

I would try:
Noorda- COM (apparently inaugural class starts next year, so they're taking applications sometime this cycle if they haven't started yet)
VCOM-Louisiana
VCOM-South Carolina
(I'd probably try the other VCOMs too they seem to like high GPA even with average MCAT)
PCOM-GA
PCOM-South GA
ARCOM
NYIT-Jonesboro
BCOM
ICOM
RVU-Utah
UIWSOM
WCU and LMU (I'm not a fan of these two, but you don't really have a choice, so...)
 
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DrStephenStrange said:
OP You could try the newer DO schools if you don't mind going to a brand new school because they are the ones you'd probably have a better chance at. In the mean time, I would also identify your issues on the C/P and CARS sections, and prepare for an MCAT retake just in case you don't make it. Aim for a 505+ on the retake with balanced sub-section scoring. Apply immediately the earlier the better with your stats, and plan your MCAT retake around April next year.

I would try:
Noorda- COM (apparently inaugural class starts next year, so they're taking applications sometime this cycle if they haven't started yet)
VCOM-Louisiana
VCOM-South Carolina
(I'd probably try the other VCOMs too they seem to like high GPA even with average MCAT)
PCOM-GA
PCOM-South GA
ARCOM
NYIT-Jonesboro
BCOM
ICOM
RVU-Utah
UIWSOM
WCU and LMU (I'm not a fan of these two, but you don't really have a choice, so...)
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I’d throw in wvsom and ATSU KCOM, but good list imo.

OP, you’re only 20 and have a masters degree. You’re friggin Dooogie, man and likely the smartest person in this thread. Are you ESL? I hit my limited ceiling and remember the futility of how it felt to keep pushing. But I was 10 years older than you.

I’d personally enroll in a formal MCAT prep course and apply. That way you can plan a retake in the spring. If you choke again, you go to a new DO school. If you crush it, reapply to “better” DO schools or defer your current acceptance and apply MD.

Have you tried any of those MCAT anki decks? I never used one personally. But it can only help. I also really like wikipremed for chem/phys stuff.

I know it’s not your situation, but I really think a lot of adcoms might see an otherwise solid app and low mcat score as sign of impulsivity at your age. Which is stupid, but I think is possible.

Goro said:
MPH's aren't that helpful for reinvention. Your GPAs are fine, but you're 2x MCAT taker who has yet to crack the 500 mark. DOA at my school, alas, and a quite a few others. In fact, you're in the risk zone for failing out of med school and/or failing Boards.

Read this:
Click to expand...

Goro, do you agree with this last bit of my post or am I out of line on this one? (I don’t know how to @ people lol.)
 
Ho0v-man said:
I’d throw in wvsom and ATSU KCOM, but good list imo.

OP, you’re only 20 and have a masters degree. You’re friggin Dooogie, man and likely the smartest person in this thread. Are you ESL? I hit my limited ceiling and remember the futility of how it felt to keep pushing. But I was 10 years older than you.

I’d personally enroll in a formal MCAT prep course and apply. That way you can plan a retake in the spring. If you choke again, you go to a new DO school. If you crush it, reapply to “better” DO schools or defer your current acceptance and apply MD.

Have you tried any of those MCAT anki decks? I never used one personally. But it can only help. I also really like wikipremed for chem/phys stuff.

I know it’s not your situation, but I really think a lot of adcoms might see an otherwise solid app and low mcat score as sign of impulsivity at your age. Which is stupid, but I think is possible.



Goro, do you agree with this last bit of my post or am I out of line on this one? (I don’t know how to @ people lol.)
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The age of 20 itself could be a red flag.
Every, and I really mean every 20 year old I interviewed came off as immature, or at a minimum, someone we felt would improve by getting some seasoning, meaning life experience.
 
Goro said:
The age of 20 itself could be a red flag.
Every, and I really mean every 20 year old I interviewed came off as immature, or at a minimum, someone we felt would improve by getting some seasoning, meaning life experience.
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^ This. As a non-trad who's volunteered and worked with lots of 18-20 year olds I can attest to this. Countless times they come running to the office crying (some with actual tears) about a doctor or staff member who "said something mean" to them. Only to find out that they were told to put some papers in a different spot and the staff member didn't grace their presence while talking to them. Or they'd have their parents (Yup..this happened multiple times) come in to request LORs on their behalf. Maybe 3/100 were mature (didn't come in late, didn't complain about every little thing or show entitlement. Compared to 20-22 year olds where it was 50/50, and closer to 75/25 for anyone older than that. Just my $0.02. Maybe OP is the exception, and even if that is the case, this thread and others have highlighted the countless benefits of taking one's time and not rushing into this lifelong learning process.

It's as simple as OP asking "does 2 points really make a difference?" and not being receptive to constructive criticism.
 
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DOaspiringDOC said:
Was wondering if I could share my stats with y'all and I could get some feedback?
Just got my MCAT back and the score was 498 (123, 123, 126, 126)

I retook the MCAT from a 490 (124, 123, 121, 122)


Current MPH student at Emory University

Undergrad GPA: 3.6

Undergrad SGPA: 3.5

Shadowing Experience: 2 MD and 1 DO

Community Service: I started my own non-profit after my brother was diagnosed with cancer. Since inception we have raised thousands of dollars to help individuals seek treatment; I also built a school for the blind in India one summer as well

Research: Clinical Research coordinator for 2 years now

Academic research: Have done research on dialysis patients that have lead me to present my abstract in a conference in Tokyo



I am mainly interested in DO schools. I fell in love with the philosophy since I was in college and since then haven’t looked back. I want to return to a rural area to practice. That is where I am from.
Click to expand...

It’s not impossible but I feel most schools would suggest a post bac. Have you considered that as an option?
 
OP- a freind of mine from CA and ORM just graduated from KCU Joplin with a 24 MCAT (<500 new MCAT) and a 3.78. He took one gap year and had decent ECs. However, he took 2 tries to pass Level 1. He matched FM and is now a DOC. I would say you have a shot.
 
TheDelOperator said:
OP- a freind of mine from CA and ORM just graduated from KCU Joplin with a 24 MCAT (<500 new MCAT) and a 3.78. He took one gap year and had decent ECs. However, he took 2 tries to pass Level 1. He matched FM and is now a DOC. I would say you have a shot.
Click to expand...
The Joplin campus opened in 2017, so no one has graduated from there yet.
 
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